Relationship between environment and society

Changing nature of relationship between environment and society

1. Changing nature of relationship between environment and society . PAPIA AKTER ID: 200444 URP Discipline , KU SOCIETY & ENVIRONMENT URBAN AND RURAL PLANNING

2. Environment Environment is derived from French word “Environ” which means “Encircle”. In simple word we can say that everything which surrounds is called Environment .or, Environment can be defined as all surrounding conditions that have direct impact on the human beings and animals. Society Group of people with common territory, interaction and culture. Large social group sharing the same geography and political authority.

3. Sustainability is essentially the relationship between the environment and society. That relationship involves a physical aspect (exploitation) and an ethical attitude (upper panel). The relationship is affected by (a) our technologies, (b) understanding of the environment, (c) understanding how exploitation affects society, (d) understanding how exploitation affects the environment, and (e) how we understand our ethical attitudes about ourselves and nature. History provides plenty of evidence that dimensions (a)–(d) are inadequate for achieving sustainability. Ethical attitudes are a critical aspect of any relationship involving humans (e), and are the neglected dimension of sustainability. This model emphasizes that technology is conceptually secondary to exploitation, determining only our capability and efficiency of exploitation. Ethics determines how we use technologies. Previous conceptual models of sustainability are silent about the role of technology, which has become a central focus, and ethics, which ought to become a central focus .   Relation between environment and society

4. Climate Change T he phrase “global warming,”  climate change  is the term now used to refer to long-term shifts in temperatures due to human activity and, in particular, the release of greenhouse gases into the environment. The planet as a whole is warming, but the term climate change acknowledges that the short-term variations in this process can include both higher and lower temperatures, despite the overarching trend toward warmth. Influence of Society on Environment

5. Water is a key resource battleground in the twenty-first century.As every child learns in school, 70 percent of earth is made of water. Despite that figure, there is a finite amount of water usable by humans and it is constantly used and reused in a sustainable water cycle. The way we use this abundant natural resource, however, renders much of it unsuitable for consumption and unable to sustain life. As a consequence of population concentrations, water close to human settlements is frequently polluted with untreated or partially treated human waste (sewage), chemicals, radioactivity, and levels of heat sufficient to create large “dead zones” incapable of supporting aquatic life WATER In that time, two children have died from lack of access to clean drinking water. Access to safe water is one of the most basic human needs, and it is woefully out of reach for millions of people on the planet. Many of the major diseases that peripheral countries battle, such as diarrhoea, cholera, and typhoid, are caused by contaminated water. Often, young children are unable to go to school because they must instead walk several hours a day just to collect potable water for their family. The situation is only getting more dire as the global population increases.

6. One demand the population boom makes on the planet is a requirement for more food to be produced. The so-called “Green Revolution” in the 1960s saw chemists and world aid organizations working together to bring modern farming methods, complete with pesticides, to developing countries. The immediate result was positive: food yields went up and burgeoning populations were fed. But as time has gone on, these areas have fallen into even more difficult straits as the damage done by modern methods leave traditional farmers with less than they had to start Ultimately, this damage threatens local fisheries, tourism, and other parts of the local economy. SOIL Soil erosion and desertification are just two of the many forms of soil pollution. In addition, all the chemicals and pollutants that harm our water supplies can also leach into soil with similar effects. Brown zones where nothing can grow are common results of soil pollution.

7. Now, we may devote our particular attention to the influence of plains, hills and deserts on human life. Firstly we consider the influence of plains. Influence of Plains: Population: The influence of plains on population can be seen from the fact that greater number of people live in the plains than elsewhere. In the plains there are greater number of towns and densely populated cities. Economic life: As there is a greater density of population in the towns on the plains, we find major industries there. The economic life of the people living in the plains is more prosperous and active. Agriculture is their main occupation. Animal husbandry also can be done better in the plains . Influence of environment on society

8. Influence of Hills: Population: The population in the hilly areas is thinner. The distribution of population is also uneven. The people live scattered due to the unevenness of the terrain. Economic Life: The economic condition of the people living in the hilly areas is worse than those living in the plains. The hilly people are generally poor. There are fewer means of transport and communication which make industrial growth difficult. The terrain being uneven and rocky, farming also is made difficult. The modern agricultural implements be used. The modes of farming are crude and orthodox. There cannot be large farms. Much of the surface soil is washed away by rains. Thus in the mountains we do not have large scale farming. The main occupations of the people are animal husbandry, cultivation of dry fruits, fruits, wool, tea and wood work etc. Social Life: The mountainous people are generally religious and orthodox. Absence of education keeps them conservative. The scattered nature of population makes it difficult to have a well-knit society. The people are very busy in earning livelihood. Hence they do not get ample leisure to develop art and literature. Due to the extreme cold a number of working days are lost. The people do not benefit by the modern scientific inventions because of the lack of developed means of transport and communication.

9. Influence of Deserts: In the deserts there is very little rain and there are few rivers. The climate is very hot. Economic Life: There is lack of means of transport and communication; hence the economic life is naturally backward. There is no agriculture because there are no rains or rivers. Of course, date palms are abundantly found. The people move from place to place in search of fodder. They lead a backward life. Trade is not in a flourishing condition. Consequently, there is poverty. Social Life: Due to the excessive poverty and a hard life, the social life of the desert dwellers is unorganised. They live in caravans. The caravans are their basic social units. These caravans often conflict with each other and indulge in loot and plundering. There is lack of good manners. Poverty deprives them of good education. Due to the poor means of communication and transport there is little contact with the civilised world. There is much religious superstition and dogmatism. They have got a tough life

10. Different aspects of human interaction with the natural environment is studied by environmental sociologists including population and demography, organizations and institutions, technology, health and illness, culture, and social inequality . Although the focus of the field is the relationship between society and environment in general, environmental typically place special emphasis on studying the social factors that cause environmental problems, the societal impacts of those problems, and efforts to solve the problems. In addition, considerable attention is paid to the social processes by which certain environmental conditions become socially defined as problems. Most research in environmental sociology examines contemporary societies. Throughout history humans have both affected, and been affected by, the natural world. While a good deal has been lost due to human actions, much of what is valued about the environment has been preserved and protected through human action. While many uncertainties remain, there is a realization that environmental problems are becoming more and more complex, especially as issues arise on a more global level, such as that of atmospheric pollution or global warming . Interactions between human society and the environment are constantly changing. The environment, while highly valued by most, is used and altered by a wide variety of people with many different interests and values. Difficulties remain on how best to ensure the protection of our environment and natural resources. There will always be tradeoffs and, many times, unanticipated or unintended consequences. However, a well-managed environment can provide goods and services that are both essential for our well being as well as for continued economic prosperity. Ref: http://geography.osu.edu , http://www.sociologydiscussion.com , http://colorado.edu ., http://courses.lumenlearning.com , http://enviroliteracy.org , http://researchgate.net , http://study.com .

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